Palu (AsiaNews) – Indonesian police and government officials, who had made forceful calls for the execution of three Catholic convicts, are having second thoughts. The three Catholics were condemned to death for their role in inter-faith clashes that erupted in Poso in 2000. The police chief of Central Sulawesi, Oegroseno, and the Prosecutor's Office of the same province, have been joined by an increasing number of people convinced that Fabianus Tibo, Marinus Riwa and Dominggus da Silva have a crucial role to play in shedding light on the conflict.

The three men were accused of masterminding a massacre of 200 Muslims in the context of wider clashes between Christians and Muslims that took place between 1998 and 2001.

During a meeting between Central Sulawesi representatives (DPD) in Jakarta's parliament and local leading political and justice figures in the province, important points – shared by the participants – emerged.  Laode Ida, chairman of DPD parliament representatives, summed them up:

-         all called for serious investigations into sectarian violence in Poso, including the so-called M9 incidents (attacks by the Red Army of Protestant Christians), for which Tibo was charged with responsibility;

-         at the same time, the authorities should focus on investigations surrounding 10 new terror suspects of 16 people indicated by Tibo as being truly responsible for events in 2000;

-         the execution of Tibo and his friends should be postponed until investigations are completed (this means the three Catholics are key witnesses to shed light on the Poso incidents).

And according the local sources, Oegroseno plans to have Tibo, Riwa and Da Silva meet Herry Mangkawa, a key witness, and to reconstruct the crime.